Cameron confirms Avatar will get extended theatrical re-release this August + Sequel will focus on the oceans of Pandora

In an interview with the LA Times, Avatar director James Cameron confirmed recent rumors that the film will be re-released in theaters, revealing that an extended cut of the film (by six additional minutes) will be released in theaters this August:

We’re working on finishing an additional six minutes of the film — which includes a lot of Weta work — for a theatrical re-release in August. We were sold out of our Imax performances right up to the moment until they were contractually obligated to switch to “Alice in Wonderland,” so we know we left money on the table there. And the 3-D really helped “Avatar” right up until the moment that it hurt it. And it hurt it at the moment “Alice” and then “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Clash of the Titans” came in and sucked up all the 3-D screens. We went from declining 8% a week to declining 50%. Clearly, it wasn’t market forces directly; it was the availability of theaters. So we’re going to wait until there’s a time to come back in, inject the new footage into the mix and see if we can interest people in the “Avatar” experience in theaters.

Cameron also talked about the second and third Avatar films. More on that after the fold.

Touching on things he’s said in the past, Cameron revealed that the sequel will focus on the oceans of Pandora while the third film will show more of the Alpha Centauri AB system:

We created a broad canvas for the environment of film. That’s not just on Pandora, but throughout the Alpha Centauri AB system. And we expand out across that system and incorporate more into the story – not necessarily in the second film, but more toward a third film. I’ve already announced this, so I might as well say it: Part of my focus in the second film is in creating a different environment – a different setting within Pandora. And I’m going to be focusing on the ocean on Pandora, which will be equally rich and diverse and crazy and imaginative, but it just won’t be a rain forest. I’m not saying we won’t see what we’ve already seen; we’ll see more of that as well.

Avatar hits DVD and Blu-ray (the Blu-ray release also includes a DVD) this Thursday, April 22 (Earth Day). You can pre-order yours now on Amazon.com for $19.99 on Blu-ray or for $15.99 on DVD.